Bruins-Canadiens Series Blog

Lineup changes could be coming for Canadiens

Bruins-Canadiens series blogLineup changes could be coming for Canadiens

BROSSARD, Quebec --Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien wouldn't confirm it, but it appears changes could be coming to his lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS).

Canadiens captain Brian Gionta spoke of how Murray could help wear down the big Bruins forwards.

"There's no secret what he brings," Gionta said. "He's a big body who can grind their forwards down low. Great on the penalty kill. He's big for this team."

Canadiens forward Rene Bourque, who leads the team with four goals in six playoff games, missed practice Monday with an illness and Therrien could not confirm he will play in Game 3.

"He's sick right now," he said, "so hopefully he'll be there [Tuesday]."

Daniel Briere skated in Bourque's spot on a line with Gionta and center Lars Eller on Monday, and Briere's spot at center of the fourth line was filled by Ryan White, who also has yet to play in the playoffs.

Travis Moen, who was scratched for Game 2 after returning from a concussion in Game 1, was playing left wing on that fourth line with White and Dale Weise. Michael Bournival was skating in Brandon Prust's spot at left wing on a line with Tomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher, leaving Prust to skate as an extra. That strongly suggests Prust may be left out of the lineup for Game 3, considering he wasn't on one of the four lines despite Bourque's absence.

He's only 17 but he can see the ice so well and he moves the puck and goes to the open ice all the time, so I just think he's a player that is ready to play in the NHL. I'm really looking forward to coaching someone like this.

— U.S. National Junior Team coach Ron Wilson on Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft